Napalm Death to headline Old Empire Stage at DESERTFEST LONDON 2018 + more bands announced

DESERTFEST LONDON are thrilled to reveal the bands taking part in the festival’s annual Old Empire stage, that will be hosted on Friday 4th May at the Electric Ballroom in Camden.

Old Empire is now a household name in the London scene, working across an array of acts, venues and cities – we are stoked the heaviest crew, and our favorite drinking buddies, are back in the fold to bring us a stage with some of their most treasured bands! Taking place on the hallowed ground of the Electric Ballroom on May 4th, Old Empire gives you the lowdown below…

For the first time in DF history, Friday will see two headliners sprawled across town – with Swedish stalwarts GRAVEYARD making their long awaited return to London at the iconic Koko, we had to rustle up something of equal measure. An act we have wanted to book across the festival since our first year of involvement, it’s a true honour to announce that British trailblazers of the extreme NAPALM DEATH are the headline act for the OE ritual – their influence on the world of heavy music is undeniable and hard to truly fathom. Never one to disappoint live, a set of insanity is upon us.

Our second artist comes in a wave of God-like reverence to Old Empire, a master of his craft – Patrick Walkers’ WARNING will bring the Electric Ballroom to its knee’s. One of the most poignant and genuinely dark British doom bands of all time, ‘Watching from a Distance’ is a masterpiece of the highest order. Having reformed for Roadburn 2017, we are thrilled WARNING will be joining us in London – all should know and all should follow.

Next up is an act that needs little introduction to the world of Desertfest, and one who perfectly embody the spirit of the Empire – the mighty EYEHATEGOD make their long awaited return. A little bit heavy metal, a whole bunch of venom and buckets of dirty groove – we’re all well aware of the party that ensues when these NOLA legends hit the stage, so it felt about damn time to bring ‘em back!

Another familiar face to the London scene comes in the form of WINTERFYLLETH. Hitting the Old Empire spectrum back in 2011, the Mancunian quartet have since consistently impressed with their unique and anthemic take on black metal. Helping to round of proceedings is FIVE THE HIEROPHANT, whose dark jazz soundscapes and eclectically heavy, yet perfectly refined, mix of sounds will make the live debut at Desertfest 2018. Alongside newbies to the scene ACDX – equal parts Isis, Hawkwind and Opeth. The dictionary definition of this Essex group would simply say, ‘indefinable’.

Old Empire & Desertfest are beyond excited to be brothers in arms once again; we hope our assorted and all-embracing heavy picks have hit the palette in the most satisfying and exciting of ways.

Desertfest London 2018
4th-6th May in Camden Town, London
3-day pass now on sale AT THIS LOCATION